Bare Foot For Thought

The NFL is the most watched event on television. Even the preseason, exhibition games with no bearing on the record, attract more viewers than some of the most popular tv shows. Part of the intrigue are the injuries—like the foot injury to defensive end Myles Garrett I covered in a previous post. Take for instance the latest foot injury to New England Patriots’ star wide receiver Antonio Brown.

Brown’s bizarre foot injury didn’t happen on the field; it didn’t even take place during a physical activity; as shown on HBO’s Hard Knocks, it resulted from Brown entering a cryochamber without proper foot protection. He suffered frostbite on his feet in the middle of summer. I have given tips on how to prevent sports injuries, but this is not a sports injury. This is neglect. Your feet might be out of your sight, but they should never be out of your mind. Like Antonio Brown, not thinking about your foot health can have severe repercussions.  

Antonio’s Brown frost-bitten feet. Warning: graphic image:

via @ab, Instagram

There is nothing more summer than going to the beach. Each year millions of people head to beaches across the country. You kick your shoes off, jump out of your car, and plunge towards the water only to feel a burning sensation. But you keep walking and hobbling despite the pain. Even dipping your feet in the cool ocean doesn’t help. You have first-and-second degree burns. A balmy 75 degrees can heat the sand to over 100 degrees and a at 90 degrees, the sand can get well over 120 degrees, hot enough to burn your feet. You don’t need any special medical equipment to prevent burning your feet on the hot sand. All you need is an inexpensive pair of flip-flops or slippers. If you did suffer burns at the beach this summer, don’t ignore your injury. Make an appointment with Ankle & Foot Specialistof N.J. for immediate treatment.

Many people take off their shoes and socks in the warm weather so their feet can enjoy the summer weather as well. But, walking barefoot can cause serious issues. Sure, our ancestors walked barefoot, but they walked on dirt not concrete sidewalks, tiles, or hardwood floors. By walking barefoot on hard surfaces, your foot experiences a tremendous amount of stress. Prolonged walking on your bare feet can change your foot’s biomechanics by redistributing pressure and weight across the foot. This can lead to the development of foot deformities like bunions and hammertoes as well as arch and heel pain, and shin splints. You can read about the treatment and managementof these common foot issues on my blog.

Lastly, neglecting to protect your feet exposes them to bacteria and fungi, especially in the summer when the warm and humid weather increases bacterial growth. Common infections from unprotected feet include athlete’s foot, scaliness and itchiness, or fungal nails. Organisms latch onto the skin of your unprotected feet and then may get inside your nails. These bacteria and fungus can contribute to unattractive feet, unpleasant odor, and even serious infections. You can avoid these very common problems by paying attention to your foot health and slide feet first into some summer footwear. If, however, you are experiencing foot aches or contracted an infection by walking bare feet, please contact our offices immediately: Hillsborough (908) 722-3668, Edison (908) 222-8980, or Warren (732) 356-3668. At Ankle & Foot Specialist of N.J., you don’t have to be a star athlete to receive world class care.